Reclining-chair



(No Model.)

s Sheets-Sheet 2. G. B. VALENTINE.

RBGLINING GHAIR. No. 478,247.

Patented July 5, 1892.

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(No Model.)

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G. B. VALENTINE. REOLINING CHAIR.

Patented July 5, 1892. i

Illll llll UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GORDON BYRON VALENTINE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RECLlNlNG-CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 478,247, dated July 5, 1892..

Application filed August 3, 1891.

To aZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, GORDON BYRON VALEN- TINE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reclining-Chairs, of Which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved chair; Fig. 2, a detail perspective view of another form of the back adjusting devices. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the chair; Fig. 4, a detail plan view, partly in section, of the arm-ad j usting devices; Fig. 5, a transverse vertical section of the same; Fig. 6, a horizontal sectional view of the chair, showing more clearly the foot-rest; Fig. '7, a detail view showing the back-adjusting devices slightly differently arranged; Figs. 8 and 9, detail views that are fully hereinafter described, and Fig. 10 a detail transverse section of the foot-rest.

The object of this invention is to produce certain novel and useful attachments for chairs, certain parts of said attachment being applicable to all or nearly all the varieties of chairs now being manufactured without material alteration thereof, as wi1l fully hereinafter appear.

The important features of this invention will fully appear in the course of this specification.

The variety of rocking-chair known as a base-rocker is shown in the drawings; but the main features of this invention, as will be fully understood from the following, are ap plicable Without material, if any, change to other varieties of chairs.

In the drawings annexed, a designates the ordinary connected base-pieces, and b therockv ers carried by the seat 0 and resting on the base-pieces, said rockers being held on the base by the vertical plates a, fastened rigidly to the base-pieces, and the pins a, secured to the rockers and workingin openings in the upper ends of the said plates a. To impart to the seat the rocking motion, I employ a long flat steel spring a instead of the usual short coil springs, these latter springs being obj ectionable,in that theyimpart to the chair a short, jerky, and uncomfortable movement ,the inner side of the adjacent rocker.

Serial No. 401,487. (No model.)

T its length in the bifurcated end of aninwardlyprojecting pin b,sccured to the upper end of one of the plates (1, and its two ends project forwardly and backwardly therefrom close to Each end of the springis bent over upon itself and formed into a-longitudinal straight loop b into which projects and works a pin secured rigidly to the inner sides of the rocker, said pins being preferably covered with rubber or other material to prevent unpleasant rattling. This spring need only be secured on one side of the chair, as shown, but it is evident that it may be made lighter and one fitted to each side, if desired.

Depending from the under side of the seat are three hangers c 0 0 the two former of which are secured near the front edge of the seat"(one near each corner) and the latter near the rear edge in the middle of the same. Connecting the two front hangers is a transverse horizontal rod d, and connecting this rod to the rear hanger is a longitudinal rod d, the forward end of the latter being coupled to the former about midway its length by a T-coupling, whereby-the parts may be disconnected. Sliding on the, rod (1' and having a limited lateral movement thereon is a laterally-enlarged loop or eye d which is connected rigidly to the rear end of a sliding frame (1 this frame being constructed of two parallel'separated bars connected together at their forward and rear ends. The foot-board or pad 6 is pivotally connected to the rods of the frame d at its forward end by means of adjustable clamps 8, these clamps being each constructed of asplit sleeve having upwardlyprojecting ears connected bya clamping-bolt 6 Eyes on the rear edge of the foot-plate are pivotally clamped between the upwardlyproj eoting cars by the clamping-bolts, so that the foot-plate may be folded over backward on the frame d when the sameis pushed back under the seat. This foot-rest has a number of important advantages, the most important of which are as follows: By means of the sliding connection and the supporting-rods the foot-plate and its frame may be pushed un- (ler the chair-seat and be entirely hidden thereby, or they may be readily pulled out for use. When pushed back under the chair, the pivotal foot-plate is folded over, as shown in full lines in Fig. 3, so as to pass entirely under, the hangers being of course made sufficiently long to permit this. \Vhen pulled out for use, the foot-platc may be readilypushed to either side to enable the occupant to leave the chair with more case or to enable a person to sit'down in it without climbing over the foot-rest. This capability of ready lateral adjustment is very advantageous and is particularly convenient for invalids, as it will save them the trouble of pushing in and pullin g out the foot-rest every time they leave the chair and return to it. It is also desirous at times to rest only one foot on the foot-plate, and to enable this to be done with comfort the foot-plate may be readilypushed to either side desired. By means of the adjustable clamps the foot-plate may be adjusted on its frame so as to suit different-sized persons. This foot-rest attachment maybe used on all ordinary chairs without material, if any,

change, and I therefore do not confine myself in this respect.

The back f of the chair is hinged to the rear edge of the seat in any suitable manner, so as to be capable of adjustment at various angles with respect thereto to convert the chair-into a reclining-chair. The arms g pivotally and adjustably connect the back to the seat, so as to permit its adjustment. Cylindrical studs or pins f are secured to the respective side pieces of the back, and work in similarlyshaped recesses in the ends of the arms, the studs being held in their recesses by small pins or screws f", passed partly through the arms and extending into annular grooves in the studs. By these means the arms are pivotally secured to the back of the chair in a neat strong manner without exposing to view the connections. The lower ends of the arms are pivoted in a similar manner to a small frame or box g, sliding on a rectangular, preferably square rod g supported by brackets g at its ends, said brackets being secured to the chair-seat in any convenient manner. The sliding box is kept pressed to its normal position-that is, at the forward end of the rod-by means of a coil-spring surrounding the rod between the box and the rear bracket. A cam-lever h is pivoted on each of the boxes, between ears formed thereon, and is adapted to bear, through the medium of interposed sliding shoes h, upon the rectangular rods and clamp the boxes at any desired point, and thereby hold the back at any desired angle.

To adjust the back, it is simply necessary to loosen the cam-locking levers, then press the back to the desired angle, and then look the levers 011 the rods. When the levers are unlocked, the spring will bring the back back to its normal position,when the parts may be again locked. The interposed shoes 71. are advantageous in that they prevent the levers from being prematurely unlocked by the ac tion of the springs or the occupant pressing forward on the arms, as is evident. This reclining attachment may also be used upon any ordinary chair, and I do not desire to be confined in this respect.

The arrangement of the rods may be varied without departing from the invention. The rods may be placed on the side edges of the seat, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or they may be placed on top of the seat, as shown in Fig. 7. The arms may be pivoted to the inner sides of the sliding boxes and the cam-levers pivoted on the outside thereof, as shown in Figs. 1 and 41-, or they may be pivoted to the outer sides of the boxes and the cam-levers arranged inside of the arms, as shown in Fig. 2, as the exigencies may require, this latter construction being preferable. i

Instead of the arms of the chair connecting the back to the seat, rods may be employed, as shown in Fig. 7, if desired.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-- 1. The combination of a chair, hangers c 0', depending from the under side of the chairbottom near its front edge, one at each side of the chair, a transverse rod d, connecting the lower ends of these hangers, a hanger 0 depending from the bottom of the chair-seat at or near its rear edge, a central longitudinal rod d, connecting the rear hanger to the front transverse rod, a loop sliding on the rod (1 between the rear hanger and front rod, and a frame connected to said loop and carr 'in g a foot-rest at its forward end, this frame resting on the front transverse rod (Z, whereby the foot-rest and frame may be slid in and out and adjusted laterally, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a chair, alongitudinal rod suspended under the seat thereof, a sliding frame d connected thereto and consisting of a pair of parallel rods connected together, longitudinally-adj ustable clamps on the rods provided with upwardly-projecting ears, and afoot-rest 6, provided with eyes on its rear edge, said eyes being pivotally connected to the upwardly-proj ecting ears on the adjustable clamps, whereby the foot-rest may be adj usted longitudinally on the rods and folded over on the same when slid in under the chair, as and for the purposes described.

3. The combination of a chair, a transverse rod cl, suspended under the front edge of the seat thereof, a longitudinal central rod 01', suspended under the seat and connected at its forward end to the rod (Z, a sliding laterally-elongated loop d on said rod 01, a forwardly-extending frame (Z connected at its rear end to said loop (1 said frame consisting of a pair of parallel rods connected together at their ends, sliding clamps on the forward part of said frame (1 and a foot-rest e, pivotally connected at its rear edge to said clamps, as and for the purpose described.

4. The combination of a chair provided with a hinged back, horizontal rectangular rods secured at the respectiveedges of the chairseat, rigid supporting-brackets at the ends of these bars, rectangular boxes sliding on these bars and provided each with a lateral pivot, a spring surrounding each of the rods and normally pressing the boxes forward on the rods, a friction-shoe embracing each of the rods within the respective boxes, a pivoted cam working through a slot in each of the boxes and bearing on the shoes, and armspivotally connecting the lateral pivots on the boxes to the chairback, as and for the purpose described.

5. The combination of a chair provided with a hinged back, stationary horizontal rods g secured on the opposite edges of the chair-seat, boxes g, embracing and sliding on the rods,a spring surrounding each of the rods and normally keeping the boxes pressed forward, a cam-leverh,pivoted in alongitudinal slotin the box, and shoes h, embracing the rods within.-

the boxes and adapted to receive the thrust ing said boxes on the rods, a hinged chairback provided WVlth oppositely projecting grooved pins f upon its side edges, chair-arms g, connecting the hinged back to the boxes 9,

the ends of these arms being provided with recesses for the reception and retention of the pins f, and the lateral pins carried by the boxes, and locking-pins secured in the arms and engaging the grooved pins, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature in 45 presence of two witnesses.

G. BYRON VALENTINE.

Witnesses:

V. P. CARY, E. G. FISH. 

